Soon after our company installed wireless networking, I began seeing geeks walking around with their laptops precariously balanced on one hand while pecking the keyboard with the other, all while bumping into people in the hallway.

These guys obviously could use a harness for their laptop, like
a front baby carrier. It would of course come with the standard "Don't Be Stupid" sign above the computer screen.

I use a camera tripod with a flat plate mounted on it. The laptop is then velcroed to the plate - easy on, easy off. Height adjustable, light weight etc. But, it ties you to one spot. Still, only cost pennies to make.

To deal with the travelling geek show: I wonder if an LCD display with the backlight, etc. removed would be transparent enough to use as a heads up display and still be readable. Then build the harness to hold the laptop up high enough that they can see through it with head up and maybe detect obstacles in their path.

[phoenix]: Not exactly top quality, I'll grant you, but it does have the full tripod leg count. Honest. I've had one of those two legged versions, but they invariable have a short attention span, and whinge about needing a break.

Duck vs. Duct: Having once held a job where I actually used it on ductwork, I call it duct tape. Haven't yet encountered an occasion to use it on a duck. But I do know of one brand that labels it "Duck tape".

Rods: Tempting as your alternatives are, I'm afraid I need to use some software which will only operate under W2000/NT/XP, and needs a substantial CPU/RAM/full size screen. Believe me, the day I can do my job with a tiny Palm-type gadget will be a fine day indeed. It will never replace my 99p notebook though (instant access, extremely long battery life, built in handwriting recognition etc.)

[Rods]: I've wanted something like a tablet PC for years - the current crop don't quite cut it, but they are damn close. Whilst we're on the subject, what I really want is a PC with a virtual full-size keyboard, projected infront of a tiny screen with a clicky-out fresnel lens to produce a fine virtual screen about 15" or so across, and I want the whole thing to pack to something about 5"x3"x0.5". And it must have a standard 9-pin RS232 port.

[yamahito/half]: Link - Exactly so. That's the thingy I was thinking of. But it's not integrated into the actual PC. Picky, but that's what I want. Too many separate bits makes for tricky use.

[bristolz]: Excellent image. Does it have a real 9-pin RS232 COM1 port? The current crop I was referring to are not (as far as I've seen) running W2000/NT/XP, but some strange tabletty windows. The software I need to run is very specific about the OS versions it will play with. Given time, the manufacturers will no doubt play ball, but until then, they make for great paperweights. Plus, without the 'proper' keyboard, as above, data input in tablet mode is iffy.

Nope, no serial port but it does have a full keyboard. The screen flips up, around, changes orientation from portrait to landscape and becomes a regular notebook. This one runs XP Pro. Nice machine. 2.5 lbs. Beautiful screen and the ink stuff is great. Has 802.11b/x built in.

[bristolz]: This no serial port business is becoming a major problem for me - it seems a great many new laptops are not bothering with the 'legacy' ports. I need to interface to lots of different wierd and wonderful control-computers, and the invariably the only route is through COM1. USB add-ons don't seem to work, presumeable because the interfacing software is badly written.

[phoenix]: Size. I want to be able to pocket the device, and a keyboard of light doesn't take up much room. A keyboard of plastic does.

I've been into wearable technology for a few years and it's something I'm very enthusiastic about. I have adapted one of the videophones we designed (Originally a biggish PDA format) to fit into a black leather jacket; the main PCB is in an inside pocket along with the RF and antenna, the backlit LCD display is on the left wrist along with the hardkeys. I took a set of RayBan Wayfarer II type spectacle frames (heavy, black, durable) and attached the microphone from the handsfree to the edge of the right lens frame; the earpiece dangles off the back end of the right sidearm. The video camera modue is glued to the right side arm as well - the unit is about the size of a sewing thimble and not too heavy. On the left sidepiece is a 1 mW laser pointer which activates when the camera goes live, giving you an "aiming point for the image you're sending. Above the left les on the inside of the frame, above eye level, are two multicolour LEDs which act as status indications. The lenses are photochromic and pretty clear indoors so the headset can be worn indoors or outdoors in bright sunlight.
A cable runs down to the left outside pocket in which the charger cable is coiled. There is a socket in my chair arm so I can charge the battery pack while I'm sitting at my desk.
This sort-of works OK but is unreilable due to the many patched and adapted connections on the system. A device which is quite heavy and bulky as one item is not noticeable when distributed thouoght a garment.
It makes you lok a lot like a Borg, but that's why I did it, actually. One day all jackets will be made this way.